First and foremost, to avoid any libel suits for using the title of one of Charles Dickens’s most acclaimed works, may I just hastily assure all that the ‘great expectations’ I am ruminating over has nothing whatsoever to do with Pip or Estella. What I am talking about is the expectations people and ourselves have for us.

Perhaps it is due to the kiasu spirit that has become prevalent in our life, but I have noticed with some regret that expectations for all parties concerned seemed to have ballooned to extreme proportions. Nowadays the pressure exerted is almost too stifling to bear. Everyone is setting themselves high goals, which of course is all very well, but is there a limit to how far you can reach? I think so.

Case in point: A family friend has a daughter who is reasonably bright. Certainly, she has a good grasp on her studies and reading skills one or two levels higher than Primary One. However the latter is largely due to the fact her mother made her read books that were more advanced, rebuking her if she stumbled over the more complicated words. It really is a bit shocking to see that she is but 6 years old. Also, her mother has plans for her to become an excellent student, sending her to tuition already at this early age. Another situation that fits the bill is of us students. It is undeniable that most of us expect a lot from ourselves. We want to be la crème de la crème; nothing less, if possible, more!

Although one might argue that high expectations are one of the best forms of moral support and self-motivation, has it been considered that too much can make a person go overboard? Look at all those cases of students committing suicide because they failed to get the grades they worked industriously and had so hoped for. The situation is so dramatic; it belongs to a sappy TVB series. Yet it does not – it is happening now.

Personally, I think a balance is in order. High expectations are good, really they are. There is something eminently satisfying about achieving what you have strived for because of the goals you have set yourself. Nevertheless one should, at the same time, always remember that going overboard has got to be out of the question. Think about it. It is like a chain reaction: going overboard leads to pressure, which leads to stress – and you know what they say about stress. It is the silent killer (good title for a run-of-the-mill job of a mystery movie).

On that note, I will end this little tête-à-tête with myself. Remember: moderation!